(Fritzlar 1957–lives and works in Karlsruhe) Gedrehter Mann I & II (2-part). 2003. Bronze, patinated in black. Artists proof outside the edition of 7. At the feed of each one with the incised signature, number and foundery stamp: St. Balkenhol A.P. De Groeve Nevele Belgium. 75 × 50 × 40 cm and 56 × 50 × 40 cm. Provenance: - Artists studio. - Private collection Belgium. Literature: Galerie L?hrl, M?nchengladbach: Stephan Balkenhol. Werkverzeichnis der Bronze-Editionen 1992-2019. M?nchengladbach 2019, no. 11 and 12 (with colour ill.). "It is a gaze that reaches into the distance - into the void, if you will - and at the same time inwards. It is not possible to determine exactly where they are looking. The figures are not looking at anyone, but they draw the viewers gaze into themselves. Perhaps it is a way of getting the viewer to identify with the figure. In any case, that ambivalence of the internal/ external is important to me." Stephan Balkenhol German art professor Stephan Balkenhol is one of the most popular sculptors in contemporary art. His sculptures are mostly of anonymous figures that reveal nothing of themselves, show no emotions, seem strangely absent, and remain elusive and mysterious. The artist deliberately endows his protagonists with the necessary distance and mystery to motivate and move the viewer to embark on a quest to decipher their meaning. Alongside his works in wood, since 1992 Balkenhol has also been creating small editions of bronzes, which occupy a significant part of the sculptors oeuvre. Just like his wooden objects, these works captivate with their dynamic and rugged surfaces. Balkenhol never uses a model but works with a prototype, which he retains in his visual memory. Born in Fritzlar, Hesse, in 1957, Stephan Balkenhol was the fourth son of a secondary school teacher and a housewife. During his studies at the Hochschule für Bildende Kunst in Hamburg from 1976 to 1982, Balkenhol was decisively influenced by Ulrich Rückriem. After graduating, he was awarded the Karl Schmidt Rottluff Scholarship and, in 1986, the Working Scholarship of the Hanseatic City of Hamburg, which paved the way for a successful career as a sculptor. Already by 1987, the artist was receiving international recognition. In 1989 Balkenhol was awarded the international sponsorship prize of the State of Baden-Württemberg, and a year later the Bremen Art Prize. While still working as a sculptor, from 1988 to 1992 Balkenhol took on teaching assignments at the Academy of Fine Arts in Hamburg, the St?delschule in Frankfurt and at the Academy of Fine Arts in Karlsruhe, where he has been a professor since 1992. His sculptures, drawings and photographs have left their mark on the public space and can be admired in major museums and private collections worldwide. STEPHAN BALKENHOL (Fritzlar 1957–lebt und arbeitet u.a. in Karlsruhe) Gedrehter Mann I & II (2-teilig). 2003. Bronze, schwarz patiniert. Künstlerexemplar ausserhalb der Auflage von 7. Am Fuss jeweils mit der eingeritzten Signatur, Nummerierung und dem Giesserstempel: St. Balkenhol A.P. De Groeve Nevele Belgium. 75 × 50 × 40 cm und 56 × 50 × 40 cm. Provenienz: - Atelier des Künstlers. - Privatsammlung Belgien. Literatur: Galerie L?hrl, M?nchengladbach: Stephan Balkenhol. Werkverzeichnis der Bronze-Editionen 1992-2019. M?nchengladbach 2019, Nr. 11 und 12 (Farbabb.). "Es ist ein Blick, der in**Ferne - wenn man so will, in**Leere geht - und gleichzeitig nach innen. Es l?sst sich nicht so genau festmachen, wo sie hinschauen.**Figuren schauen niemanden an, ziehen aber den Blick der Betrachter mit in sich hinein. Vielleicht ist es ein Mittel, eine Identifikation des Betrachters mit der Figur zu erreichen. Jedenfalls ist mir**Ambivalenz innen/aussen wichtig." Stephan Balkenhol Der deutsche Kunstprofessor Stephan Balkenhol z?hlt zu den beliebtesten Bildhauern der Gegenwartskunst. Seine Skulpturen sind meist anonyme Figuren,**nichts von sich preisgeben, keine Emotionen zeigen, seltsam abwesend wirken, schwer greifbar und geheim bleiben. Bewusst verleiht der Künstler seinen Protagonisten**notwendige Distanz und R?tselhaftigkeit, um den Betrachter zu motivieren und zu bewegen, sich auf**Suche nach deren Entr?tselung zu begeben. Parallel zu Balkenhols Holzarbeiten entstehen seit 1992 Bronzewerke in kleiner Auflage,**einen bedeutenden Teil im Oeuvre des Bildhauers einnehmen. Ebenso wie seine Holzobjekte bestechen diese Werke mit bewegten und zerklüfteten Oberfl?chen. Balkenhol arbeitet stets ohne Model und erstellt vorab einen Typus, den er in seinem visuellen Ged?chtnis speichert. Wohl deshalb weisen prim?r seine m?nnlichen Figuren bestimmte ?hnlichkeiten auf. 1957 wird Stephan Balkenhol im hessischen Fritzlar als vierter Sohn eines Gymnasiallehrers und einer Hausfrau geboren. W?hrend seines Studiums an der Hochschule für Bildende Kunst in Hamburg von 1976 bis 1982 wird Balkenhol massgeblich von Ulrich Rückriem gepr?gt. Nach seinem Abschluss ebnen ihm das Karl-Schmidt-Rottluff Stipendium und 1986 das Arbeitsstipendium der Hansestadt Hamburg den Weg zu einer erfolgreichen Karriere als Bildhauer. Bereits 1987 erh?lt der Künstler internationale Anerkennung. 1989 wird Balkenhol mit dem internationalen F?rderpreis des Landes Baden-Württemberg, ein Jahr sp?ter mit dem Bremer Kunstpreis ausgezeichnet. Gleichzeitig zu seiner Arbeit als Skulpteur übernimmt Balkenhol von 1988 bis 1992 Lehrauftr?ge an den Hochschulen für Bildende Künste in Hamburg, der St?delschule in Frankfurt und der Akademie der Bildenden Künste in Karlsruhe, wo er seit 1992 als Professor t?tig ist. Seine Skulpturen, Zeichnungen und Fotografien pr?gen den ?ffentlichen Raum und k?nnen in bedeutenden Museen und Privatsammlungen weltweit bewundert werden. notes:*
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